SHEFFIELD United captain Michael Doyle is backing a new campaign to get people to sign up to an online service that reminds them to test their smoke alarms.

The Blades midfielder is urging fans to sign up to the Press The Button service launched by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue to help reduce the number of people killed in house fires.

Those who sign up will get weekly or monthly email reminders about the need to test their alarms.

So far around 250 South Yorkshire residents have signed up for the free service.

The campaign was launched because of the number of blazes firefighters attend, where smoke alarms are not working.

Firefighters say that working smoke alarms save lives – giving people a vital extra few minutes to get out of burning buildings before flames spread and trap people inside.

Blades campaign Michael said: “I’ve got a great deal of respect for the work the fire service do.

“I hope this new service will help people stay safe from house fires. I’d urge all our supporters to sign-up for free reminders.”

Diane Malpass, the fire service’s head of community safety, said: “We know how easy it is to forget to test your batteries, but by signing up to this free service we promise to give you a regular, gentle reminder which may one day save your life.”